Page 33 - the-iliad
P. 33

are brave, and who are cowards; for they will vie against the
            other. Thus you shall also learn whether it is through the
            counsel of heaven or the cowardice of man that you shall
           fail to take the town.’
              And  Agamemnon  answered,  ‘Nestor,  you  have  again
            outdone the sons of the Achaeans in counsel. Would, by
           Father Jove, Minerva, and Apollo, that I had among them
           ten more such councillors, for the city of King Priam would
           then soon fall beneath our hands, and we should sack it. But
           the son of Saturn afflicts me with bootless wranglings and
            strife. Achilles and I are quarrelling about this girl, in which
           matter I was the first to offend; if we can be of one mind
            again, the Trojans will not stave off destruction for a day.
           Now, therefore, get your morning meal, that our hosts join
           in fight. Whet well your spears; see well to the ordering of
           your shields; give good feeds to your horses, and look your
            chariots carefully over, that we may do battle the livelong
            day; for we shall have no rest, not for a moment, till night
           falls to part us. The bands that bear your shields shall be wet
           with the sweat upon your shoulders, your hands shall weary
           upon your spears, your horses shall steam in front of your
            chariots, and if I see any man shirking the fight, or trying
           to keep out of it at the ships, there shall be no help for him,
            but he shall be a prey to dogs and vultures.’
              Thus he spoke, and the Achaeans roared applause. As
           when the waves run high before the blast of the south wind
            and break on some lofty headland, dashing against it and
            buffeting it without ceasing, as the storms from every quar-
           ter drive them, even so did the Achaeans rise and hurry in

                                                     The Iliad
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